Seal-lock.



L. C. ASMUSSEN.

SEAL LOOK.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 11, 1912. ,07 92 Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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SEAL LOCK.

1 APPLIIGATION FILED JANJI, 1912. Patented NOV. 18, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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SEAL LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1912.

1,079,092, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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LOUIS C. ASMUSSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEAL-LOCK.

Application filed January 11, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS C. Asiuussnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbers of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Heretofore many attempts have been made to afford a car seal at once cheap and reliable. With this in view, many different constructions have been tried, most of which have proven expensive to manufacture, and, inasmuch as the entire device has heretofore been thrown away after the seal is broken, the cost for the device represents a loss to the transportation companies using the same.

The constructions heretofore have usually relied upon. the sealing wire to hold the door closed, and in some instances the slight wire of the seal has been broken by accident, and the door thereby free to open.

The object of this invention is to afford a lock for the car door of such a construe tion as to hold the door securely locked and sealed, and preventing the opening of the door except by the destruction of the seal.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a sealing adapted to be permanently secured to the car, and adapted to receive an inexpensive seal therein, said lock to be opened only by the destruction of the sea].

It is also an object of the invention to afford a construction in which all the device, with the exception of the portion bearing the seal number, is adapted for repeated use, and in which the seal number plate is of the cheapest and simplest construction.

The invention is adaptable for many purposes, and in its preferred form consists in the matters hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a car, showing the seal in place. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the seal. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. t is a section on line l l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2 (with the tumbler and handle removed). Fig. 6 is a. section on line 6 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Nov. 18, 1913.

Serial No. 670,585.

of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the pawl bar and ratchet. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the sealing lock secured upon the car in a differentmanner. Fig. 10 is an enlarged face view of the sealing lock shown in Fig. 9, showing the same removed from the car. Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation similar to Fig. 10, but broken away and partly in section. F 12 is an enlarged detail illustrating the ratchet construction. Fig. 13 is view illustrating the construction and arrangement of the sea] cutter, showing the half of the casing inverted. Fig. L1 is a section on line 1l-ll of F1 11: Fig. 15 is a section on line l5-15 of Fig. 11. Fig. 16 is an enlarged face view of the -atchet. Fig. 17 is enlarged face view of the seal.

As shown in the drawings: Referring first to Figs 1 to 8,inclusive,1,indicates the car; 2, the sliding car door of the usual construction. The sealing lock may be secured either on the car or on the door, as preferred. As shown in Fig. 1, an apertured plate or hasp 3, secured to the door, in position for its free apertured end to engage over a staple 4, secured on the base of the seal lock indicated as a whole by A. Said seal lock is secured upon the car side in position for the bolt thereof to project through the aperture in the staple to lock the car door when the door closed. integrally secured on the base 5, of the seal lock is a semi-cylindric casing 6, provided at each end with mitwardly directed lugs 7 and 8, at their upper edge at each end of the same, adapted to permit permanent engagement by riveting or otherwise with a corresponding semicylindric shell 9, also provided with lugs 7 and 8' and which, together therewith, affords an interior cylindric chamber or barrel having an integral upper head or end 10. Atotatably secured in said barrel is a plug 11, the lower end of which is reduced to afford a stem 12, which extends outwardly through the lower end of the casing at the axis thereof, and pivotally engaged on which is a handle 13, capable of being swung laterally to afford a crank to rotate the plug, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As shown, said plug is smooth at its lower end, and is retained in place in said barrel ty a continuous, in vardly projecting flange 14, at the lower end of the barrel. As shown also, an inclined slot or notch is cut in said plug longitudinally thereof in its periphery to receive a numbered, soft tin sealing plate 15, which is inserted into engagement therewith through an aperture in said casing or shell shown in Fig. 6, to be drawn thereby inwardly and around the plug, that the numbers thereon may read through an aperture shown in the outer face of the barrel at X, when the seal is in place.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a V shaped cutter 16, which projects into the groove 16 in the plug 11, is provided in the inner wall of the barrel and serves as a stop for said numbered sealing plate to hold the same normally in view position at the aperture X, and to slit the same longitudinally when forced therepast. Peripheral ratchet teeth 17, are provided at the lower end of said plug, and a pawl 18, is seated in a recess in the lower head of the barrel and is held at all times in engagement with said ratchet teeth by means of a spring 19, which holds the pawl in operative position to prevent reverse turning of the plug and thereby prevents removal of the seal except past the cutter 16.

Slidably engaged in a guide casing 20, therefor, parallel the axis of the barrel and in alinement with the locking aperture through the staple 4, is the bolt 21, which, as shown, is provided with a recess extending longitudinally thereof, in which engages a pin 22, set in the bolt casing 20, and acts to hold said bolt from falling from its casing when in position for the door to open. The bolt 21, is notched on its side adjacent the plug 11, to receive the edge of the plug therein when the bolt is in locking position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, thereby preventing retraction of the bolt without rotating the plug. The plug is notched in its periphery, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, in advance of the forward end of the seal, so that when the seal has been mutilated or slit by rotation of the plug past view position, the bolt is free to slide to unlock the door. From this construction it is evident that it will be impossible to retract said bolt to release the door by reversing the rotation of the plug, owing to the spring pawl preventing reverse turning thereof, and in consequence, after the insertion of the seal the bolt can only be released by completing the rotation of the plug, and destroying the seal, by forcing the numbered sealing plate against the cutter 16,before described, thereby cutting the numbered sealing plate centrally and longitudinally. For the purpose of facilitating such cutting action and also for convenience in carrying the numbered sealing plates, an aperture is provided in each closely adjacent to the advance end thereof at the bend of the hook formed by rotating the plug to facilitate the entry of the knife thereon and the severing and destruction of the plate.

in the construction illustrated in Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive, the hasp 23, is secured on the door by means of a staple 2%, as usual, and a staple 25, is set in the side of the car adjacent the door to receive the apertured end of said hasp. The lock (except that the same is constructed to be secured upon the car side by means of a chain 26) is substantially as before described. A cylindric casing comprising semi-cylindrical sections 27 and 28, riveted together through suitable lugs at the ends thereof, and having on one side thereof an aperture Y, for the insertion of the numbered sealing plate, and on the other side an aperture Y to display the same in place, has pivoted at one end thereof a shackle 29, adapted for insertion through the staple 25, to lock the hasp in place, and at the other end is adapted to be inserted in an aperture in said casing and shaped for engagement with the plug 30. Said plug is journaled in said casing substantially as before described, d at its inner end is provided with a spring pressed pin or pawl 31, seated eccentrically therein and adapted to engage ratchet teeth provided on the inner side of the head 32, closing said casing, and which, as shown, comprises a cylindric body such as shown in Figs. 12 and 16, provided with laterally directed lugs 33, which engage in suitable recesses in the casing members to firmly hold tl e same from rotation or movement. Said plug at its other end is provided with an outwardly extending stem 34, and is proided at its extremity with a laterally extended head 35, adapted for manual engagement to permit rotation of the same. Said plug is provided at its forward end adjacent the stem, with a peripheral flange 36, adapted to lit in a groove provided at the inner side of the shackle near its extremity, so that when said plug is rotated, said flange engaging therein firmly holds the shackle from release. In said construction, inasmuch as the sealing or number plate extends longitudinally of the barrel, the cutters are arranged transversely the barrel, and a plurality of such cutters 37, as shown in Fig. 13, are arranged to register with corresponding grooves in the plug and at approXimately the position occupied by the s1gnnicant digits on the seal, so that completion of the rotation of the plug carrying the sealing plate from view position to discharge position, result in the mutilating of each, or a plurality of the significant figures thereon, rendering the seal incapable of further use.

The operation is as follows: The hasp is inserted over the staple 4, or 25, as the case may be, and the bolt 21, or 29, inserted theretarough, and in such position the end of the sealing plate 15, (in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive), or the upper edge thereof (in the construction illustrated in Figs. 9 to 17) is inserted in the longitudinal slot therefor in the plug through the aperture provided for that purpose in the casing. The plug is then turned sufficiently to roll the seal over the plug, thus in effect forming a hook in the seal, where it engages in said slot and thereby firmly engages the seal thereto. Such rotation of the plug also locks the bolt in engaging position in the staple. The rotation of the plug is continued until the seal shows in the view aperture indicated at X, in Fig. 6, and at Y, in Fig. 10, at which position the forward edge of the seal is brought into bearing against the cutter 16, or cutters 37, the increased resistance of which to further rotation serves as a stop. Reverse rotation is rendered impossible by the pawl 18, or 31, which, engaging the ratchet teeth of the plug, permits but forward rotation only. It will thus be seen that, when the seal is in view position, or, in other words, the door is sealed, the door is also positively locked by means of a substantial bolt of such a construction as to prevent accidental opening of the door due to the breaking of a seal wire, as has heretofore frequently occurred. The door can only be unlocked and opened by first forcibly rotating the plug carrying the seal therewith against the cutters and mutilating and destroying the sealing plate. This can be done only at an expenditure of such force as would preclude its accidental occurrence.

When it is desired to unseal the car, the plug is manually rotated. In the form illustratcd in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the lever 13, may be swung at a right angle to its stem, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 4, thus serving as a lever to rotate the plug. Owing to the relatively small size of the plug illustrated in Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive, and the correspondingly less force required in rotating the same, the laterally extended end of the stem serves the purpose without the requirement of greater leverage.

It will readily be seen that the constructions illustrated are substantially one and the same. If desired, the ordinary types of seals heretofore used may be employed in connection with a sealing lock embodying my invention, in which event the lock may serve as a look only, and the seal inserted through the staple as usual, or through the end of the bolt 21, which is provided with an aperture at its upper end to receive the same. From the construction described, it is evident that the lock per se affords an eX- ceedingly strong and durable means for securing the door in closed position, and becomes, in fact, a lock with the insertion of the seal.

Of course, it is to be understood that details of the construction may be modified,

and 'I do not purpose limiting the patent granted upon this application otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described embracing a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical notched member rotatable therein, a seal adapted to be carried thereon, a bolt adapted to slide into said notches, and means rotating the seal bearing member to destroy or insert a seal.

2. A lock of the class described embracing a rotatably grooved element, a movable grooved bolt adapted to slide through said grooved element for certain position of the same to open the lock, said element adapted to engage said grooved bolt to lock the lock and a seal adapted to be carried on said element and destroyed as the same moves to unlocking position.

3. A device of the class described embracing a casing, a rotatable element therein, means limiting the rotation to one direction, a bolt movably connected with the casing and with said rotatable element and rigidly engaged by the latter in locking position a sealing plate engaged on the rotatable e ement and carried thereby within, and inspectable through the casing and acting to resist rotation past view position, and cutters secured within the casing and acting to mutilate the seal upon further rotation.

1. A car lock of the class described embracing an apertured staple or eye bolt to receive the door hasp, a bolt adapted to engage over the hasp in said eye or staple, a rotatable element acting to rigidly lock said bolt in locking position, a numbered seal secured to, and movable with said rotatable element and acting to resist movement there of to unlocking position, and a cutter affording a stop for said seal at locking position and acting to destroy the seal when moved past locking position.

5. A seal lock of the class described embracing a bolt and a rotatable element acting to engage the bolt in looking position, means for rotating the same, a casing inclosing said rotatable element having a seal aperture therein, a slot in said rotatable ele ment adapted to receive one edge of a sealing plate therein, said casing acting to wrap said seal partly around the rotatable element with the rotation thereof to view position, and means holding said rotatable element from reverse rotation.

6. A device of the class described embracing a eylindric casing having a seal inserting aperture and a view aperture therein, a slotted rotatable element for engaging a sealing bolt therein, means rotating said rotatable element from inserting position to view position, a cutter serving as a stop for the seal beyond view position, and acting to destroy the same when moved therepast, and

a locking bolt normally engaged by the rotatable element in looking position when the seal is at view position and reasonable thereby when the rotatable element is at seal inserting position.

7. A device of the class described embracing a cylindric casing having a seal inserting aperture and a view aperture therein, a slotted rotatable element for engaging a sealing bolt therein, means rotating said rotatable element from inserting position to view position, a cutter serving as a stop for the seal beyond view position and acting to destroy the same when moved therepast, a locking bolt normally engaged by the rotatable element in locking position when the seal is at view position and releasable thereby when the rotatable element is at seal inserting position, and means holding the rotatable element from reverse rotation.

8. The combination with a car and its door of a hasp secured on one and a sealing lock secured on the other embracing a staple or eye bolt to receive the hasp, a cylinder having notches therein and adapted to support said bolt in locking position, a seal insertible in said locking mechanism and acting to resist movement thereof to unlock ing position and means for rotating said cylinder to move said notches into alinement With said bolt and permit the same to slide therethrough into unlocking position.

9. A locking device of the class described embracing a casing, a notched plug rotatable therein, a notched bolt slidable in said casing parallel with said plug, and means for displaying a seal on said plug in locking position and means mutilating the same in moving to unlocking position.

10. A device of the class described embracing a casing, a cylindrical plug rotatable therein, a pawl and ratchet preventing reverse rotation of said plug, said plug notched in its periphery, and a locking bolt notched to engage said plug and adapted to be moved into unlocking position when said plug notch is alined therewith.

11. A device of the class described embracing a casing having apertures in the walls thereof, a rotatable plug in said casing, a bolt retained in locking position thereby, a seal having characters thereon adapted to be visibly secured on said plug, means on said plug to cause rotation of the same, and a cutting member integral with said casing adapted to mutilate each character on said seal when the plug is rotated to unlocking position.

12. A device of the class described embracing a rotatable member, a pawl and ratchet to prevent reverse rotation of said member, means securing a seal on said member, a member adapted to be locked by said rotatable member, and means destroying said seal when said members are disposed in unlocking position.

13. A device of the class described embracing a face plate adapted to be secured on a car, a staple and a casing thereon, a bolt slidable in said casing and adapted to project through said staple when in locking position, and a plug journaled in the casing adapted to retain said bolt in locking position, said plug and bolt complementally notched to slidably engage one another in locked and unlocked positions respectively.

14. A device of the class described embracing a casing, a bolt slidable therein, a rotatable plug in said casing having a plurality of notches therein providing releasing means for said bolt for less than one revolution of said plug, a seal adapted to be secured on said plug, and means mutilating the seal with each movement of said plug to unlocking position.

15. A device of the class described embracing an apertured casing, a rotatable element therein, a seal adapted to be secured on said element and visible through one of said apertures, mutilating means and a locking bolt adapted to be released after said seal is rotated by said element against said mntilating means.

16, A device of the class described embracing a casing, a rotative locking member, a seal adapted to be secured thereon, mutilating means to destroy the seal when said locking member is rotated into unlocked position, a slotted bolt adapted to be locked and released by said member, and a pin engaged in said slot in the bolt to prevent rctraction of the same from the casing.

17. A device of the class described embracing a rotatable seal bearing cylinder, mutilating means for the seal, and a notched bolt permanently but movably connected to the device, said notch adapted to engage said cylinder to hold said bolt in locking position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS C. ASMUSSEN.

Vitnesses:

MARGARET B. ASMUSSEN, LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

